Valve.



Patented Sept. I6, |902..

VALVE.

3 SheetS-Sheet l.

J. H. BICKFORD.

(Application led June 17, 1901.)

(No Model.)

, N0. 709,990. Patented sept. t0, 1902.

' J. H. BtcKFoRn.

VALVE.

(Application led June 177. 1901.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

- WMM Nq. 708,990. "Patented Sept. I6, |902.

.L H. BICKFURD VALVE.

(Application filed June 17, 1901.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Wmmwwwf 2'! i UNTTnD STATES TATBNT TTICE..

JOI-IN II. BICKFORD, OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS.

VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 708,990, dated September 16,` 1902.

Application filed June 17,1901. Serial No. 64,831. (No niodel This invention relates to valves and is in-` tended as an improvement upon the valve shown and described in Letters Patent No. 686,703, granted to me November 19, 1901. In the valve shown in said patent the valveplate was flexibly connected to its carrier and movable laterally against and held upon its seat by the pressure, and means were provided whereby an opposing force was exerted upon said valve-plate, which reduced the thrust of said valve-plate upon its seat. In said patent the valve-plate was adapted to remain in sliding contact with its seator in contact with a suitable equivalent thereforl at all times, and I lind thatwith some types of valves and-with valves of certain sizes this is objectionable. i

My present invention has for its object to provide means for operating the valve-plate which is borne by the carrier in a different manner from that shown in said patent--that is to say, the valve-plate is movable toward and from its seat instead of being held upon and adapted to slide on its seat or on an equivalent at all times. In accordance with this invention the valve-plate borne by the carrier is moved laterally toward and from its seatby the pressure and is held upon its seat also by the pressure, and instead of providing means whereby an opposing force will be eX- erted upon said valve-plate to reduce its thrust upon the seat, yet cause it to slide at all times upon its seat or upon an equivalent therefor as the carrier is moved up and down, means are `herein provided whereby the pressure which holds the valve-plate upon its seat is relieved or reduced to such an extent that under ordinary conditions the valve-plate is moved laterally away from its seat and remains away from its seat during the entire up-and-down movement of the carrier, except it may incidentally remain in contact with and slide on its seat a very short distance at the beginning of its upward movement and at the endof its downward movement. Therefore herein the pressure when properly controlled, as will be hereinafter described, is employed for three distinct purposes, or, in other words, performs three distinct functions-wiz., it moves the valve-plate laterally toward its seat, holds the valve-plate upon its seat when the carrier is at rest, andmoves the valve-plate laterally away from its seat and holds it thus removed during the up-anddown movement of the carrier.

The valve is especially adapted for use in connection with elastic pressures, yet it may be used in connection with non-elastic pressures Well.

Figure l shows in vertical section a valve embodying this invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation and partial section of the valve shown in Fig. l, and Fig. 3 is avertical section of a modified form of valve embodying this invention.

d represents the valve-case, which is made of any suitable shape, having ports d a',

`which are preferably made circular, and having a bonnet f, containing a stuffing-box, through which the valve spindle or stem passes. The valve-case a is formed or provided interiorly with a valve-seat a2, surrounding or inclosing the port a. The valveseat a2 may be made quadrangular or circular or of any other suitable shape.

The valve-plate herein shown consists of a disk c, connected to a follower-plate c' by `a screw-threaded stud e,on which a nutis turned to hold the parts assembled, a suitable plunger (although Anot essentially necessary) being interposed between the plate c' and nut, which contains a spring p, to be described. The valve-plate is herein shown connected to a shell d (which is the essential element of the carrier which supports and carries the valve-plate) by a metallic or otherdiaphragm c2, having a roll c3, and any suitable means will be employed for securing said diaphragm c2 to the shell d-as, for instance, a ring c4 may be employed, which is screwed or otherwise connected tothe shell CZ. The diaphragm c2 serves as and constitutes a flexible element, and the follower-plate c', which is located back of it, serves as a reinforcing-plate for said flexible element. Any other suitable tlexible element maybe employed in lieu IGC of a diaphragm. By connecting the diaphragm c2 to the shell d it will be seen that a chamber is produced of which said flexible element forms a part, and said chamber is herein employed to receive the pressure from the pressure-supply, as will be hereinafter described, and consequently will be herein referred to as the pressure-chamber, although so far as myinvention is concerned this pressure-cham ber may be constructed in other ways, yet. having a flexible element as a part of it which is adapted to serve as an actuator for or means for moving the valve-plate when its movement is controlled, as will be hereinafter described, by the pressure in the pressure-chamber. The valve-plate is or may be provided at it-s lower end with a slot t', which establishes communication between ports as soon as said valve-plate is raised a short distance. The valve-plate, herein shown as actuated by the iiexible element ofthe pressurechamber, .is free to move laterally relative thereto in a direction toward and from its seat d2, according as the pressure in said pressure-chamber is controlled. Means are provided whereby the pressure is admitted to the pressure-chamber, which latter, as herein shown, is located at the back side of the valve-plate, and said means, as herein shown, consists of a duid-passage orother connection which leads from the inlet of the valve, meaning the pressure-supply, to said pressurechamber,which when open alords a free and unobstructed passage for the fluid which is being controlled. This fluid-passage from the inlet of the valve-f. c., the pressure-supply-t0 the pressure-chamber may be made in many dierent ways, more or less circuitous,'which comes within the scope ot' thisinvention, and two different ways are herein illustrated.

One form of fluid-passage is shown in Fig. l, wherein it will be seen that the spindle or stem g, which is attached to the carrier, is made tubular fora portion ofits length, thereby providing a passage c2, which is in open communication with the pressttre-cham ber by Ineans of a hole through the shell d, and at the upper end of said passage e2 the spindle or stem g has a side opening normally communicating with a recess ina gland w ofthe stuffing-box when the carrier is in its lowermost position and the valve consequently closed, and the bonnet f, containing said stuffing-box in which said spindle rises, is cut away or formed to provide a passage e3, which is in open communication with the recess in the gland, and said bonnet. and valvecase are provided with a passage et, leading from the passage c3. As shown in this figure of the drawings, the passages e2 and e4 at'e substantially in parallelism, while the passage e3 is at right angles thereto and connects thetn at the top when the carrier is in the position shown in Fig. l. When the fluidpassage connecting the pressure-chamber with the pressure-supply is open, as shown in said Fig. 1, the pressure in said pressurechamber and acting back of the valve-plate Will be the same per square inch as the pressure on the front side'of the valve-plate; but as the area of the back side of the valveplate acted upon by the pressure in the chamber is greater than the area of the front side of the valve-plate in contact with the pressure by the area of the seat it is obvious that the -valve-plate will be moved laterallytoward and held hard upon its seat by the pressure in said chamber acting back of it. The carrier bearing the pressure-chamber and valve-plate may be raised and lowered by turning the hand-wheel g2 on the spindle or stem g. stuffing-box contained in the bonnetf, and a driving-gland f' is preferably provided, also having a stuffing-box, which will be hereinafter referred to as an auxiliary stuffingbox. The auxiliary stuffing-box is employed particularly in case `the valve is used for controlling elastic pressures, yet may be employed for non-elastic pressures, if desired. Controlling the pressure in the pressurechamber, which acts in turn to control the lateral movements of the Valve-plate toward and from its seat, constitutes one of the essential features of this invention, and while this result may be accomplished in many different ways, all within the scope of this invention, I have herein shown one practical embodiment of the invention in Fig. l for the sake of illustration. As shown in said Fig. l, a valve is provided which is adapted to open and close the fluid-passage leading to the pressure-chamber to thereby admit or not the pressure and also to open and close an ou tiet-passage leading from said pressurechamber. The controlling-valve shown in said figure comprises as stationary members the aforesaid ring or gland fw and the driving-gland f and suitable packing, which inclose or embrace the spindle g at the upper end of its tubular portion, which latter serves as the movable member of said controllingvalve, as will be described. The ring or gland w is formed with a suitable opening or recess communicating with a passage e3 in the bonnetf, and above said ring w a packing-ring w' is provided, which when compressed impinges upon a split ring 1,02, contained-within it, into firm engagement with the spindle g. The packing-ring w' is pressed down hard on the ring w, and thereby compressed, by the driving-gland f. The lower end portion ot' the driving-glandf has a Vertical slot or passage f3 contiguous the spindle g, extending upward to an internal recess f4, and a hole 'U is provided at said recess, which establishes communication with the atmosphere. The slot or passage f3, recessj'4, and hole o, taken together with the passage cz in the spindle g, serve as and constitute an outlet-passage leading from thepressure-chamber. When `the spindle g is in its lowermost position,

Fig. l, the side opening or entrance tothe The spindle g passes up through a IOO passage e2 in the spindle is in open communication with the opening in the ring w and the fluid-passage consequently open; but when said spindle is raised a short distance said side opening or entrance rises above the opening `in the ring w and is closed by the packing above said ring fw, and said Huidpassage is at such time closed. As the spindle continues its upward movement the passage e2 continues to rise above the ring or gland 'w and soon opens into the passage f3 in the driving-glandf, thereby opening the outlet-passage leading from the pressure-chamber. Thus in this instance that portion of the spindle or stem g which cooperates with the stationary members of the controllingvalve to thereby control the fluid-passage and outlet-passage serves as the valve proper of the con trolling-valve by which the pressure of the pressure-chamber is controlled. As soon as the controlling-valve closes the fluidpassage leading to the pressure-chamber the pressure in said pressure-chamber begins to fall, (if steam,) and when the pressure has been reduced to a point where the pressure per square inch in the pressure-chamber is materially less than the pressure of the pressure-` supply then the valve-plate will tend to fall away from its seat; but ordinarily the operator will not raise the carrier this short distance and then wait, even if steam, but will continue lto raise said carrier, and as soon 'as the controlling-valve opens the outlet-passage the accumulated pressure in the pressure-chamber will escape, which operation causes the valve to move laterally away from its seat until the stud e strikes a stop in the shell d of the pressure-chamber.

As before stated, the fluid-passage leading from the pressure-supply to the pressurechamber may be constructed in many different ways; so, also, the outlet-passage leading from the pressure-chamber may be constructed in many different ways coming within the scope of this invention. In the instance just described the valve controlling the fluid-passage and outlet-passage is operated by the means employed for moving the carrier; but said valve may be otherwise operated. It will be seen as the carrier is raised the valveplate incidentally will slide a short distance on its seat before said controlling-valve closes the Huid-passage.

The controlling-valve herein shown is simple and 'performs the work designed and intended for it; but so far as my invention is concerned a valve of any other form or construction may be employed in lieu of that herein shown, as I desire to include within the spirit and scope of this invention any formor construction of valve adapted to open and close any form or construction of passage or passages connecting the pressure-supply with a pressure-chamber borne by the valveplate carrier, whereby the pressure in said pressure-chamber may be controlled in such manner as to cause its iiexible element to the ring or gland fw.

The outlet-passage leading from `the pressure-chamber4 is quite as important in controlling the pressure in said pressure-chamber as the inlet-passage which leads from the pressure-supply, as it is by opening said outlet-passage that the pressure is relieved, so as to cause the valve-plate to move away from its seat.

It will Vbe seen that by properly controlling the pressure in the pressure-chamber the valve-plate is operated, being moved laterally toward its seat by the pressure in said pressure-chamberand held in contact with its seat by the pressureY in said pressurechamber and then moved laterally awayfrom its seat by a decrease or absence of pressure in said pressure-chamber, all of which is controlled bythe valve controlling the pressure of the pressure-chamber.

A springp is contained in the plunger e', which works in a socket formed in the shell d of the pressure-chamber, said plunger serving as a guide for the laterally-movable valveplate, (although not essentiallynecessaryg `and said spring serving to seat the valveplate normally and also assisting the pressure in seating it,asit might happen that when the valve-plate is away from its seat and there is a pressure back of it as well as in front of it said valve-plate would be` balanced so far as the pressure is concerned; hence the elnployment of this spring. To prevent the spring p from thrusting the valve-plate laterally against the interior wall of the valve- `case, so that when lowered it will strike the projecting valve-seat, two ribs j, one on each side of ,the seat, are provided on said interior wall, on which the valve-plate may ride as it rises, being thereby held in a proper plane to move correctly onto the valve-seat when lowered. 4

Referring to Fig. 3, a Huid-passage leading to the pressure-chamber borne by the valveplate carrier is formed through the valveseat, valve-plate, and stud e, being represented by the passage n through the valveseat, the passage n' through the valve-plate, and the passage n2 through the stud ethis modification being illustrated merely for the purpose of showing another one of the various forms of fluid-passage from the supply to the pressure-chamber which may be employed. In this case the pressnrein the pressure-chamber is exhausted into the body of the valve and out into the opposite port when the valve is opened, as there is generally no pressure but atmospheric in this space, although substantially the same result would follow if there was a` materially low pressure in the outlet-port, and the body and opposite port serve as and constitute an outlet-passage leading froln thepressure-chambelgand the controlling-valve which controls the presrio sure of the pressure-chamber is formed by the valve-plate sliding a short distance on its seat and then opening the passage n' to the aforesaid outlet-passage.

It will be seen that herein the valve-plate is moved laterally toward its seat by admitting the pressure to the pressure-chamber and is closed upon its seat by the pressure assisted by the spring and thereafter is held upon its seat by the pressure and is moved away from its seat by withdrawing or reducing said pressure in the pressure-chamber and allowing the pressure ot' the pressuresupply to force the valve-plate off of its seat, and in case the valve controlling the {luidpassage is operated by the spindle or other means employed for moving the carrier it will be seen that said action is automatic.

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a valve, a carrier bearing a valveplate and also bearing a pressure-cham ber having a exible element as a part of it, means for moving said carrier, means, as a passage, connecting said pressure-chamber with the pressu re-supply,said pressn re-chamber controlling the movements ot' said valveplate laterally toward and from its seat as the pressure therein is controlled, and a valve for controlling the pressure in said chamber, substantially as described.

2. In a valve,a carrier bearing a valve-plate and also bearing a pressure-chamber having a flexible element as a part of it, means for moving said carrier, means, as a passage, connecting said pressure-chamber with the pressuresupply, said pressu re-chamber controlling the movements of said valve-plate laterally toward and from its seat as the pressure therein is controlled, and a valve for controlling the pressure in said chamber operated by the means employed for moving the carrier, substantially as described.

3. In a valve, a carrier bearing a valve-plate and also bearingapressure-chamber having a flexible element as a part of it, means for moving said carrier, means, as a passage, connecting said pressure-chamber With the pressuresupply, said pressure-chambercontrolling the movements of said valve-plate laterally toward and from its seat as the pressure therein is controlled, and a manually-operated valve for controlling the pressure in said chamber, substantially as described.

4. In a valve, a carrierbearinga valve-plate and also bearing a pressure-chamber having a flexible element as a part of it, means for moving said carrier, means, as a passage, connecting said pressure-chamber With the pressuresupply, said pressure-chamber controlling the movements of said valve-plate laterally to- Ward and from its seat as the pressure therein is controlled, and a spring acting to assist in moving said valve-plate toward its seat, substantially as described.

5. In avalve, a carrier bearinga valve-plate and also bearing a pressure-chamber having a flexible element as a part of it, means for moving said carrier, means, as a passage, connecting said pressure-chamber with the pressuresupply, said pressure-chamber controlling the movements of said Valve-plate laterally toward and from its seat as the pressure therein is controlled, a spring acting to assist in moving said valve-plate toward its seat and a valve for controlling the pressure in said pressure-chamber, substantially as described.

6. In a valve, a carrier bearing a valve-plate and also bearing a pressu re-chamber having a flexible element as a part of it, means for moving said carrier, means, as a passage connecting said pressure-chamber with the pressuresupply including as a part of it a passage in the stem attached to said carrier, said pressure-chamber controlling the movements of said valve-plate laterally toward and from its seat as the pressure therein is controlled, and a valve for controlling the pressure in said chamber, substantially as described.

'7. In a valve, a carrier bearing a valve-plate and also bearing a pressure-chamber having a iiexible element as a part of it, means for moving said carrier, means, as a passage, connecting said pressure-chamber with the pressuresupply, an outlet-passage leading from said pressu re-chamber throughgwhich the pressure is released, said pressure-chamber controlling the movements of said valve-plate laterally toward and from its seat as the pressure therein is controlled, and a ValveA for controlling said outlet-passage, substantially as described.

8. In a valve, a carrier bearinga valve-plate and also bearing a pressure-chamber having a fiexiblc element as a part of it, means for moving said carrier, means, as a passage, connecting said pressure-chamber with the pressuresupply, au outlet-passage leading from said pressu re-chamber through which the pressure is released, said pressure-chamber controlling the movements of said valve-plate laterally toward and from its seat as the pressure therein is controlled, and a Valve for controlling said outlet-passage operated by means employed for moving the carrier, substantially as described.

9. In a valve, a carrier bearing-a valve-plate and also bearing a pressure-chamber having a flexible element as a part of it, means for moving said carrier, means, as a passage, connecting said pressure-chamber with the pressuresupply, an outlet-passage leading from said pressure-cham ber through which the pressure is released including as a part of it a passage in a stem attached to said carrier, said pressure-chamber controlling the movements of said valve-plate laterally toward and from its seat as the pressure therein is controlled, and a valve for controlling said outlet-passage, substantially as described.

lO. In a valve, a carrier bearing a valveplate and also bearing a pressure-chamber having a iiexible element as a part of it, a reinforcing-plate for said flexible element,

IIO

means for moving said carrier, means, as a passage, connecting said pressure-chamber with the pressure-supply, said pressure-chainber controlling the movements of said valveplate laterally toward and from its seat as the pressure therein is controlled, and a valve for controlling the pressure in said chamber, substantially as described.

1l. Ina Valve, a carrier bearing a valveplate and also bearing a pressure-chamber having a eXible element as a part of it, means for moving said carrier, means, as a passage, connecting said pressure-chamber With the pressure-supply, an 0utlet-passage leading from said pressure-chamber through Which the pressure is released, said pressurechamber controlling the movements of said valve-plate laterally toward and from its seat as the pressure therein is controlled, and a valve for controlling the pressure in said chamber constructed and arranged to -close the passage leading from the pressu re-supply to the pressure-chamber, and to open the outlet-passage leading from the pressure-chamber, substantially as described.

12. In a valve, a carrier bearing a valve! plate and also bearing apressure-chamber having a flexible element as apart of it, means for moving said carrier, means, as a passage, connecting said pressure-chamber with the pressure-supply, an outlet-passage leading from said pressure-chamber through which the pressure is released, said pressurechamber controlling the movements of said Valve-plate laterally toward and from its seat as the pressure therein is controlled, and a valve operated by the means employed for moving the carrier for controlling the pressure in said pressure-chamber constructed and arranged to close the passage leading from the pressure-supply to the pressurechamber, and to open the outlet-passage lead` ing from said pressure-chamber, substantially as described.

13. In a valve, a carrier bearing a valveplate and also bearing a pressure-chamber having a flexible element as a part of it, means for moving said carrier, means, as a passage, connecting said pressure-chamber with the pressure-supply, an outlet-passage leading from said pressure-chamber through which the pressure is released, said pressurechamber controlling the movements of said valve-platelaterally toward and from its seat as the pressure therein is controlled, and a manually-operated valve for controlling the pressure in said chamber constructed and arranged to close the passage leading from the pressure-chamber and to open the outlet-passage leading from said pressure-chamber,sub stantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOI-IN H. BICKFORD.

Witnesses:

B. J. NoYEs, JOHN W. DEcRoW. 

